Technology & Engineering
MAX Function Excel
The MAX function in Excel is a built-in function that returns the highest value in a range of cells. It is commonly used to find the maximum value in a set of data, such as sales figures or test scores. The function can be easily applied to a range of cells and can save time when analyzing large amounts of data.
Written by Perlego with AI-assistance
Related key terms
1 of 5
6 Key excerpts on "MAX Function Excel"
- Sandra Cable, Jennifer Campbell, Mark Ciampa, Barbara Clemens(Authors)
- 2019(Publication Date)
- Cengage Learning EMEA(Publisher)
Excel also displays the value the MAX function will return to cell C14 in the Function Arguments dialog box, shown in Figure 2–18. Q&A 3 • Click OK (Function Arguments dialog box) to display the highest value in the chosen range in cell C14 (Figure 2–19). Why should I not just enter the highest value that I see in the range C4:C12 in cell C14? In this example, rather than entering the MAX function, you could examine the range C4:C12, determine that the highest number of dependents is 3, and manually enter the number 3 as a constant in cell C14. Excel would display the number similar to how it appears in Figure 2–19. However, because C14 would then contain a constant, Excel would continue to display 3 in cell C14 even if the values in the range change. If you use the MAX function, Excel will recalculate the highest value in the range each time a new value is entered. Q&A Other Ways 1. Click AutoSum arrow (Home tab | Editing group), click Max 2. Click AutoSum arrow (Formulas tab | Function Library group), click Max 3. Type =MAX( in cell, specify range, type ) Figure 2–18 range typed in Number1 box OK button Function Arguments dialog box first few numbers in range result of function Figure 2–19 MAX function determines highest value in range C4:C12 highest value in range C4:C12 How can I learn about other functions? Excel has more than 400 functions that perform nearly every type of calculation you can imagine. These functions are categorized in the Insert Function dialog box shown in Figure 2–17. To view the categories, click the ‘Or select a category’ arrow. Click the name of a function in the Select a function list to display a description of the function. Q&A Copyright 2020 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. May not be copied, scanned, or duplicated, in whole or in part. Due to electronic rights, some third party content may be suppressed from the eBook and/or eChapter(s).
No longer available |Learn moreMicrosoft Excel Functions and Formulas
With Excel 2021 / Microsoft 365
- Brian Moriarty, Bernd Held, Theodor Richardson(Authors)
- 2022(Publication Date)
- Mercury Learning and Information(Publisher)
C H A P T E R 5 BASIC STATISTICAL FUNCTIONS USE THE MAX FUNCTION TO DETERMINE THE LARGEST VALUE IN A RANGE This example finds the largest value in the range A3:D11 by using the MAX function. The function’s return value is the largest value in a set. MAX(number1, number2, ...) number1, number2, ...: From 1 to 255 numbers for which you want to find the largest value. It is possible to use a cell reference; however, the cells must contain numbers or values that can be converted to numbers. You can also use a range of values that can number more than 255 X To determine the largest value: 1. In cells A3:D11 type any values. 2. In cell B1 type the formula =MAX(A3:D11). 3. Press . 136 • MICROSOFT EXCEL FUNCTIONS AND FORMULAS, 6/E FIGURE 5–1 In Chapter 10, you will learn how to automatically mark and shade the largest value in a range. USE THE MIN FUNCTION TO DISCOVER THE LOWEST SALES VOLUME FOR A MONTH In a company, employee sales are monitored. Columns B to E contain the sales for the first four months of the year. To determine the lowest sales for a given month, use the MIN function. The function’s return value is the small- est value in a set. MIN(number1, number2, ...) number1, number2, ...: From 1 to 30 numbers for which you want to find the smallest value. It is possible to use a cell reference; however, the cells must contain numbers or values that can be converted to numbers. X To determine the lowest monthly sales: 1. In a worksheet, copy the range A1:E10 shown in Figure 5–2. 2. Select cells B12:E12 and type the following formula: =MIN(B2:B10). 3. Press . NOTE BASIC STATISTICAL FUNCTIONS • 137 FIGURE 5–2 In Chapter 10, you will learn how to automatically shade the smallest value in each column. USE THE MINIFS FUNCTION TO DISCOVER THE LOWEST SALES VOLUME FOR A MONTH BASED ON CRITERIA Similar scenario to the previous example with the addition of the Region col- umn. Column B contains the region in which the salespeople work.
eBook - PDF- A Thorne(Author)
- 2017(Publication Date)
- Macmillan(Publisher)
This feature is especially helpful in large spreadsheets. Sometimes it will also be easier to type in the cell range (e.g. B2:B406) in the formula, instead of selecting the actual cells. 18.1.9.1 Maxima Maxima are values that are the deepest, fastest, furthest, heaviest, highest, largest, longest, loudest, most, most expensive, oldest, tallest, widest, etc. Find a maximum as follows: 1. Select the column or row. Don’t include cells with words. Also remove units (e.g. kg or mm) and type them in the column headings instead. 2. Under the Home tab, in the Editing group, click the arrowhead next to the AutoSum button. 3. Click the Max option in the menu. The maximum value will appear in the next blank cell in the column or row. The formula appears in the Formula bar This is the cell that contains the highest value of all the cells that were selected You could use AutoFill in row 7 to find the maximum of the VAT values as well Figure 18.21: Finding the maximum value in a range 18.1.9.2 Minima Minima include values that are the least, least expensive, lightest, lowest, narrowest, nearest, shallowest, shortest, slowest, smallest, softest, youngest, and so on. Do the following to find a minimum among a group of cells: 1. Select the column or row. Don’t include cells with words. Also remove units (e.g. kg or mm) and type them in the column headings instead. 2. Under the Home tab, in the Editing group, click the arrowhead next to the AutoSum button. 3. Click the Min option in the menu. The minimum value will appear in the next blank cell in the column or row. Figure 18.22: Minimum option under the AutoSum button 105 Module 18 1. Create a new file and save it as: LO3 CS Act 18.6 1.1 Calculate the averages of the values below in a spreadsheet. 1.2 Also find the maxima (don’t include the average values). 1.3 Find the minima (don’t include the maxima or average values).
eBook - PDF- Shaffer/Carey/Parsons/Oja/Finnegan, June Jamrich Parsons, Dan Oja, Patrick Carey, Carol DesJardins(Authors)
- 2016(Publication Date)
- Cengage Learning EMEA(Publisher)
Figure 3-10 M I N function in the Function Arguments dialog box Function Library group on the Formulas tab MIN function in cell B7 click to view help on the MIN function name of the selected function description of the function syntax function arguments with required arguments in bold preview of the formula result Copyright 2017 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. May not be copied, scanned, or duplicated, in whole or in part. WCN 02-300 Module 3 Performing Calculations with Formulas and Functions | Excel EX 147 uni25D7 6. Click the OK button to insert the formula =MIN(E:E) into cell B7. The formula returns 102, which is the minimum value in column E. uni25D7 7. Click cell B8 , and then repeat Steps 3 through 6, selecting the MAX function from the Statistical category. The formula =MAX(E:E) entered in cell B8, and returns 187, which is the maximum value in column E. See Figure 3-11. Figure 3-11 Results of the M I N and MAX functions formula to calculate the maximum value in column E To find the median corn yield: uni25D7 1. Click cell B9 to make it the active cell. uni25D7 2. Click the Insert Function button located to the left of the formula bar. The Insert Function dialog box opens. uni25D7 3. In the Sear ch for a function box, type middle value as the search description, and then click the Go button. A list of functions matching that description appears in the Select a function box. See Figure 3-12. Note that like the COUNT and AVERAGE functions, the MIN and MAX functions ignore cells with text or blank cells in the selected range. The average is one way of summarizing data from a sample. However, averages are susceptible to the effects of extremely large or extremely small values. For example, imagine calculating the average net worth of 10 people when one of them is a billionaire. An average would probably not be a good representation of the typical net worth of that group.
eBook - PDF- Steven M. Freund; Joy L. Starks; Eric Schmieder, Steven Freund, Joy Starks, Eric Schmieder(Authors)
- 2016(Publication Date)
- Cengage Learning EMEA(Publisher)
May not be copied, scanned, or duplicated, in whole or in part. WCN 02-300 Formulas, Functions, and Formatting Excel Module 2 EX 73 Excel Module 2 2 • Click the OK button (Insert Function dialog box) to display the Function Arguments dialog box. • Replace the text in the Number1 box with the text, c4:c12 (Function Arguments dialog box) to enter the first argument of the function (Figure 2 – 18). What are the numbers that appear to the right of the Number1 box in the Function Arguments dialog box? The numbers shown to the right of the Number1 box are the values in the selected range (or if the range is large, the first few numbers only). Excel also displays the value the MAX function will return to cell C14 in the Function Arguments dialog box, shown in Figure 2 – 18. Q&A 3 • Click the OK button (Function Arguments dialog box) to display the highest value in the chosen range in cell C14 (Figure 2 – 19). Why should I not just enter the highest value that I see in the range C4:C12 in cell C14? In this example, rather than entering the MAX function, you could examine the range C4:C12, determine that the highest number of dependents is 3, and manually enter the number 3 as a constant in cell C14. Excel would display the number similar to how it appears in Figure 2 – 19. However, because C14 would then contain a constant, Excel would continue to display 3 in cell C14 even if the values in the range change. If you use the MAX function, Excel will recalculate the highest value in the range each time a new value is entered. Q&A Figure 2–18 Figure 2–19 Other Ways 1. Click Sum arrow (Home tab | Editing group), click Max 2. Click Sum arrow (Formulas tab | Function Library group), click Max 3. Type =MAX( in cell, specify range, type ) range typed in Number1 box OK button Function Arguments dialog box first few numbers in range result of function MAX function determines highest value in range C4:C12 highest value in range C4:C12 Copyright 2017 Cengage Learning.
eBook - PDF- Patrick Carey; Carol DesJardins, Patrick Carey, Carol DesJardins(Authors)
- 2016(Publication Date)
- Cengage Learning EMEA(Publisher)
Figure 3-10 M I N function in the Function Arguments dialog box Function Library gr oup on the Formulas tab MIN function in cell B7 click to view help on the MIN function name of the selected function description of the function syntax function ar guments with r equir ed ar guments in bold pr eview of the formula r esult Copyright 2017 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. May not be copied, scanned, or duplicated, in whole or in part. WCN 02-300 Module 3 Performing Calculations with Formulas and Functions | Excel EX 147 uni25D7 6. Click the OK button to insert the formula =MIN(E:E) into cell B7. The formula K K returns 102, which is the minimum value in column E. uni25D7 7. Click cell B8 , and then repeat Steps 3 through 6, selecting the MAX function from the Statistical category. The formula =MAX(E:E) entered in cell B8, and returns 187, which is the maximum value in column E. See Figure 3-11. Figure 3-11 Results of the M I N and MAX functions formula to calculate the maximum value in column E To find the median corn yield: uni25D7 1. Click cell B9 to make it the active cell. uni25D7 2. Click the Insert Function button located to the left of the formula bar. The Insert Function dialog box opens. uni25D7 3. In the Search for a function box, type middle value as the search description, and then click the Go button. A list of functions matching that description appears in the Select a function box. See Figure 3-12. Note that like the COUNT and AVERAGE functions, the MIN and MAX functions ignore cells with text or blank cells in the selected range. The average is one way of summarizing data from a sample. However, averages are susceptible to the effects of extremely large or extremely small values. For example, imagine calculating the average net worth of 10 people when one of them is a billionaire. An average would probably not be a good representation of the typical net worth of that group.
Index pages curate the most relevant extracts from our library of academic textbooks. They’ve been created using an in-house natural language model (NLM), each adding context and meaning to key research topics.
